Sunday, May 21, 2017

Local airplanes are pretty expensive if you buy it online yourself. The price also does not include meals; a small snack would cost as much as a proper lunch in a standard Western restaurant. It might be smart to bring your own snack with you.

·Trains

A good value for your money. The disadvantage is that it’s not easy to get tickets. For long-distance trips, you must book a ticket in advance. You might encounter fraud at the railway stations (I have heard about this, but have not been in such a situation myself.).

After getting your SIM card, you can subscribe to the travel website MakeMyTrip and try your hand at booking a
train/flight ticket from there.

If you bought a ticket with a sleeping berth, you will
get bed linen in the train.

·Buses

Advantages of a bus: cheap, relatively easy to get a ticket. The main disadvantage is that travel agents sell overpriced tickets to foreigners and the bus
you will get is not necessarily in the best shape. Also, a trip in a bus at
night is less comfortable than in a train. However, some busses are designed to
provide sleeping places, just like in a train. There are even double beds in
some of them. That makes your trip more comfortable. There is no any bed linen
in there, so it’s advisable to take your own pillowcase and a sheet from home.
Sometimes an additional payment is required for luggage. You won’t get a
receipt for that, so write down in your notebook how many pieces of luggage you
have and ask the loader to sign it. Normally they will do this without
protesting.

In cities:

·Taxi: The cars are national and international brands;
most have air conditioning. Not cheap. Drivers use a navigation system via
smart phones.

·Tuk-tuks

Tuk-tuks are exotic; natural ventilation because
there are no windows and doors. The drivers do not have a navigation system, so
for your own convenience you must have a printed map with a clear address and
telephone number for your destination. Ask your hotel in advance for tuk-tuk
prices from the railway station.

·Rickshaws

Rickshaws are good if you are shopping in
the bazaars or for very short trips; however, their recommendations might be
very subjective; they could advice to you the shops of their friends or
relatives. Normally illiterate.

Tips for local trips in the city:

·Agree on the price before getting in the
vehicle.

·Take a small notebook with you. That will be
useful not only for making notes but also for writing a negotiated price for
your trip by taxi, rickshaw or tuk-tuk driver. Write it in front of the service
provider; this will be proof of your agreement with him. Otherwise, your driver
might quote a different price at the end of the trip,
which happens quite often.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

oWhen
planning your trip to India, be aware that in some places, travel during
certain months should be avoided.

oFor
example, in New Delhi from May to June, the temperature can reach +50 C (+122
F) and you’d feel uncomfortable going anywhere outside your hotel.

oJuly
and August are months with heavy rain, which can make it inconvenient to
explore India.

Average temperature in India

·Vaccinations

oAbout
one month before your trip to India (or earlier), get in touch with a
vaccination specialist in your local health center. At that time, you must have
your travel plans ready. The doctor will ask which places in India you are
planning to visit. That is necessary for you to get the right vaccinations and
prevent unnecessary ones. For example, in some
areas at certain times of the year, the threat of malaria exists. However, if you are not going to
those areas or if you will be there during the “low” season for the anopheles
mosquito, you might not need that vaccination.

·Clothing

oIndia
is a highly religious country. You won’t see any Indian (man or woman) wearing tight
shorts, mini skirts or transparent clothing. My advice is to wear clothing that
aligns with local habits and that is comfortable for traveling. Take a
long-sleeve cotton blouse, a couple of T-shirts, loose trousers, bermuda shorts
covering your knees and comfortable walking shoes. Due to pollution, try to
avoid white; otherwise you must wash your clothes each time you wear them.

oYou
can also buy great coloured pants and blouses at the local bazaars. Shopping
there is a lot of fun!

Outfit in India

oSunglasses
and hat

·Other things

oTorch.
The sunset in Delhi is around 6 pm and total darkness arrives quickly. The
streets and roads are poorly illuminated and you are at risk of getting hit by
whatever comes your way.

oReflectors.
If you think you will be hanging out outside at night, you might consider pinning
a light reflector on your backpack or clothing.

Reflectors

oUmbrella.
To protect against the rain and/or sun.

Miscellaneous

oElectric
water kettle. If you have space in your luggage, you might consider taking a
small, simple kettle and making your own tea whenever you want.

oLuggage.
There are no elevators in the train stations and there are long stairs you must
use to reach your platform. I have learned that a backpack is the best option
for long-term traveling in India. Before my trip, I bought two pieces, which I
can use together or separately, as well as a cover to protect against dirt and
rain (which I recommend) and I was happy with my preparation. The larger suitcase
does not weigh down your shoulders; the weight goes on your hips and you can
carry it for at least some time without problems.